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He added: ‘Since people use their own experience to judge how well the economy is doing, rather than what they read, I conclude that an honest but gloomy autumn statement from the Chancellor will win more respect than a more upbeat assessment that seems to contradict their own experience.

‘Few believe there is much the Government could do to improve the situation in the short term, and the prevailing view is that “Plan A” makes more sense than the alternative of borrowing more for longer.’

The graph shows how debt grew rapidly around 2008 when Gordon Brown and Ed Balls were exercising most power within Government

When asked what factors were behind the economic gloom, 58 per cent of the 5,000 people polled cited the banks and 40 per cent blamed the last Labour government.

Reckless borrowing was cited as a reason by 37 per cent, while just 14 per cent put it down to the Coalition.

Sixty per cent agreed the debt and deficit had to be brought under control, even at the cost of extensive pain. Forty per cent wanted tax cuts and slower spending cuts, even if that meant borrowing more for longer.

Most voters accepted the Coalition’s argument that ‘you can’t borrow your way out of a debt crisis’. But they also said they accepted that the economy is likely to get worse before it improves.

Had Labour still been in government, 39 per cent said they believed the economic situation would be worse than it is now. Only 21 per cent believed the country’s finances would be in better shape if Mr Miliband’s party was still in charge.

However, those who largely blame the last government for Britain’s economic crisis said they did not wish to hear this any more from Coalition ministers.

Three-quarters of poll respondents named ‘rising prices’ as one of their top three worries, compared with 53 per cent who were worried about job insecurity or finding a job.